It started with a headache that would not leave.
I ignored it at first, but this one stayed.
For days, it was quite persistent.
I had a lot of work to do. Too many things were already in motion. It did not feel like the right time to slow down for something that seemed small.
But you see, the body has a way of telling us when there is a problem. Repeatedly.
And eventually, I paid attention.
That was how I found myself in the hospital, sitting across from a doctor, answering questions I had not thought to ask myself.
About sleep.
About food.
About my pace.
Simple things, but not small.
Because as I listened, it became clear that I could not ignore them anymore.
That day, I understood something.
Sometimes, the body communicates what the spirit has been trying to say.
A quiet warning.
A gentle nudge.
A call to come back into alignment.
There is a scripture that came to mind as I sat with all of this:
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you…?” — First Epistle to the Corinthians 6:19
That scripture stayed with me:
Your body is a temple. Not something to push past or neglect, but something to honour.
And honour looks different from endurance.
Honour pays attention.
Honour makes adjustments.
Honour does not wait until something breaks.
In this context, honour is stewardship.
Sleeping earlier.
Eating with more intention.
Letting our bodies rest without argument.
And I started doing that.
At first, it felt unfamiliar. Like I was learning a language I should have known.
But slowly, it began to feel right.
Like something coming back into place.
What is your body telling you?
If your body has been trying to get your attention in small ways, this might be your moment to listen.
Not out of fear.
But out of care.
This week, you can choose one thing to adjust:
Sleep a little earlier.
Eat more intentionally.
Move your body.
Do something that says, gently,
“I am paying attention now.”
And see what begins to change.
Sometimes, the body is not just reacting.
Sometimes, it is guiding you.
Here’s to kindly stewarding our bodies well,
Nkiruka.